Talib Kweli

Found 11 thoughts of Talib Kweli

Once you're signed to a label you compromise.

I not only wanted to showcase lyrical skills but also continue to drop knowledge on the hiphop community. I'm looking to elevate through my music, and through my music I educate.

Even an independent label is looking for a hit, they're not looking for a record that's not gonna do well.

So I think hip-hop is moving and is going to continue to move in the direction of rappers just being honest with themselves, whether you're talking about Common and Mos Def or Nas and 50 cent.

And you know, art as commerce, doesn't really make too much sense, they don't go together.

But there's so many things in life like women, like children, like God and family that transcends the world of hip-hop.

I was always rhyming and doing it for the love before I found out I was gonna have children and when I found out, doing it for the love wasn't enough.

Fortunately, artists can live off their works, if you're creative at how you do it. If you just depend on the videos and the radio, you're at a loss.

The problem with our role is Americans live in a world of illusion.

I met Mos Def around that time but I didn't hook up with him until I was about 17 or 18.

At exactly which point do you start to realise, that life without knowledge is death in disguise?